Arch support



Dec. Z8, 1937., A. MIRENTA ARCH SUPPORT Filed April 9, 1955 PatentedDec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

My invention has for an object to provide an improved arch support inthe form of an insole which may be inserted in a shoe to relieve variousailments of the human foot, such, for instance, as Weak or iiat foot,metatarsalgia, Mortons toe and pronounced dislocation of the rstmetatarsal phalangeal articulation.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide aninsole with a padof novel form for supporting the anterior metatarsal arch. Heretofore ithas been the practice to provide an elevation on the insole which risesto its highest point back of the metatarsal boneheads. I have found,however, that more satisfactory results are obtained by providing ametatarsal arch support which extends beyond the articulation of themetatarsal bones and the phalanges. My experience teaches that it isnecessary to exert pressure on the metatarsal bones directly under theirlocation and for this reason it is an object of my invention to providea pad support forl the metatarsal arch which extends rearwardlyapproximately to the articulation of the external and middle cuneiformbones with the second and third metatarsals.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insole with a ilareadapted to lie under the first metatarsal bonehead, this flare beingprovided with a pad t0 Support said bonehead. It is within the purviewof my invention to' form this pad as a separate element from the padsupporting the 'anterior metatarsal arch and also, if desired, to makethese two pads integrally connected.

A further object of my invention is to provide an insole formed witheither or both of the pads above described and having also a wedgeshaped pad along the inner margin of the insole arranged to support theinner longitudinal arch of the foot. f

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in thefollowing description of two embodiments thereof and thereafter thenovelty and scope of the invention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of an insole for the left foot, embodyingone form of my invention, the skeleton of the foot being indicated inbroken lines on the insole;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same looking from the right hand side ofFig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views in transverse section ,taken o n lines 3 3 and4-4 respectively of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end view looking from line 5-5 of Fig. 1 in the directionof the arrows;A

Fig. 6 is a fragmental bottom plan view of another form of my invention;and

Fig. 7 is a view in section taken on line 'I'-'I of Fig. 6.

The structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a main body I0consisting of leather or other suitable flexible material contoured tofit within a shoe and extending from the heel to a point somewhat beyondthe location of the metatarsal boneheads but slightly back of the toes.This body member has a flare II at one side which in use extends underthe rst metatarsal bonehead. The body I0 has a plane upper surface, buton its under side is beveled along the outer margin` from the heelportion I2 around' the toe portion I3 to and including the are portionII.

As a support for the metatarsal arch a pad i4 is applied to the underside of the body. This pad is preferably composed of rubber but may alsobe made of leather or other suitable flexible material, and it risesfrom a point substantially at the location of the cuneiform bones,Vpreferably at the point where the exterior and middle cuneiform bonesarticulate with the second and third metatarsal bones. The pad I4 whichis Vtransversely convexed rises gently from said point and reaches itsmaximum height and width substantially under the metatarsal bone heads.Thence, it extends forward, tapering toward the main body of the insoleand terminating slightly behind the location of the toes. rlfhis pad maytake different forms depending upon the particular defect to becorrected. Over the pad is tted a cover piece I5 of flexible materialsuch as thinly skived'leather which is cemented to the body piece I0. y

Another insert I6 of suitable padding material is fitted between thecover I5 and the body I 0 at the flare II. The pad formed by this insertmay be properly proportioned to the height of the pad I4 depending uponthe conditions to be corrected. It will be understood that this padserves to give proper support to the rst metatarsal bonehead.

Along the inner margin of the insole a pad I'I of -Wedge shape in crosssection may be lnserted between the members I5 and I0 with the thin edgeof the wedge disposed inwardly. The outer face of the wedge ispreferably cut at an acute angle with respect; to the plane of themember I0.

In use the insole is introduced into the shoe PII with the plane surfaceuppermost and the pads exert pressure on, or, provide support for thefoot through the flexible body Ill. The pad I4 will provide a supportfor the anterior metatarsal arch and wherever necessary the additionalpad I6 Will provide a. support for the first metatarsal bonehead. Thelongitudinal arch may be supported by the wedge shape insert I1. I Wishit to be understood that my invention contemplates using Vthe pads I2,I4, and I6 either separately or in combination and either or bothof'these pads may be combined With the support provided by the wedgeshaped insert IT. It Will be understood also that the cross section ofthe insert I'l may be varied as required.

While in the structures so far described lhaveV referred to the pad I5as a separate element from the pad I4, it will be obvious that incertain conditions these two pads could be integrally connected. Such astructure is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in which parts substantiallyidentical with those shownin Figs. 1 to 5 are given likereferencenumerals. It will be observed that in place of pads I4 and I5, I providea single pad IdarI With a lateral extension Ia adapted to support therst metatarsal bonehead. In other respects, the insole shown in Figs. 6and '7 is the same as that previously described.

An important advantage of my improved support for the metatarsal archlies in the fact that it extends substantially from the cuneiform bonesto a point Well beyond the metatarsal boneheads with the highest part ofthe support at said boneheads., This provides a rocking effect resultingin material comfort, and it assists in restoring normal posture.

While I have shown and described two embodiments of myv invention theseare to be taken as illustrative and not limitative and I reserve theright to make various changes in form, construction and arrangement ofparts which fall within the spirit and scope of the following' claims.

I claim: Y

1. A support for the human foot comprising a flexible insole providedwith an elongated pad adapted to'support the anterior metatarsal arch,said pad beginning at a point substantially at the location of thecuneiform bones of the foot and gradually increasing in thicknesstherefrom until it reaches its greatest thickness substantially at thearticulation of the phalanges with the metatarsal boneheads. Y Y

2. A support for the human foot comprising a flexible insole providedwith an elongated pad adapted to support the Vanterior metatarsal arch,said pad beginning. at a point substantially at the location of thecuneiform bones of' the foot and gradually increasing in thicknesstherefrom until it reaches its greatest thickness substantially at thearticulation of the phalanges with the metatarsal boneheads andextending thence forwardly to a point slightly behind the toes andtapering to a feather edge at the latter point.

3. AV support for the human foot comprising a flexible insole providedwith an elongated pad adapted to support the anterior metatarsal arch,said pad rising gradually from a point substantially at the location ofthe cuneiform bones of the foot and reaching its greatest heightsubstantially at the articulation of the phalange's with the metatarsalboneheads, said insole being also provided with a laterall ilare adaptedto lie under the first metatarsal bonehead of the foot, and a resilientpad at said flare.

4. A support for the human foot comprising a flexible insole providedwith an elongated pad adapted to support the anterior metatarsal arch,said pad rising gradually from a point substantially at the location ofthe cuneiform bones of the footV and reaching Yits greatest heightsubstantially at the Varticulation of the phalanges with the metatarsalboneheads and extending thence forwardly to a point slightly behind thetoes and tapering to a feather edge at the latter point, said insolebeing also provided with a lateral flare adapted to lie under the-firstmetatarsal bonehead of the foot and a resilient pad at said flare.

v 5. A supportrfor the human foot comprising a exible insole providedwith an elongated pad adapted to support the anterior metatarsal arch,said pad rising gradually from a point substantially at the location ofthe cuneiform bones of the foot and reaching its'greatest heightsubstantially at the articulation of the phalanges with the metatarsalboneheads and extending thence forwardly to a p oint slightly'behind thetoes and tapering to a feather'edge at the latter point, said insolebeing also provided with a lateral nare adapted to lie under the rstmetatarsal bonehead of the foot and a resilient pad at s aid nare, thelatter pad andthe padsupporting the metatarsal arch being integrallyconnected.

6. A supportV for the human foot comprising a flexible insole providedWith an elongated pad adapted to support the anterior metatarsal arch,said pad beginning at a point substantially at the location of thecuneiform bones of the foot and gradually increasing in thicknesstherefrom unf til'it reaches its greatest thickness substantially at thearticulation of the phalanges with the metatarsal boneheadsv andextendingl thence forwardly to a point slightly behind the toes andtapering to a feather edge'at the latter point, and a pad along theinner margin 'of the insole adapted to support the inner longitudinalarch of the foot. Y

7. A support for the human foot comprising a flexible insole providedwith'an elongated pad adapted to support the anterior metatarsal arch,said pad beginning at a p oint substantially at the location of thecuneiformV bonesof the foot and gradually increasing in thicknesstherefrom until it reaches its greatest thickness substantially at thearticulation of the v'phalanges with the metatarsal boneheads andextendingvthence forwardly to a point slightly behind the toes andtapering to a feather edge at theY latter point, and a pad along theinner margin of the insole adapted to support the inner longitudinalarch of the foot, the latter pad being Wedge shaped in cross sectionwith the thin edge of the wedge disposed inwardly. Y

v V8. A support for the human foot comprising a flexible insole providedwith an elongated pad adapted to support the anterior metatarsal arch,said pad rising gradually from a point substantially at therlocation ofthe cuneiform bones of the foot and reaching its greatest heightsubstantially at the articulation of the phalanges with the metatarsalboneheads and extending thence forwardly to a point slightly behind thetoes and tapering to a feather edge at the latter point, said insolebeing also provided with a lateral flare adapted to lie under the firstmetatarsal bonehead of the foot, a resilient pad at said flare, and apad alongfthe inner margin ofthe insole adapted to support the innerlongitudinal archof the foot, theV latter pad being wedge shaped incross section with the thin edge of the Wedge disposed inwardly.

9. An insole comprising a main body piece of vexible material having asubstantially plane to support the rst metatarsal bonehead, said padsbeing secured to the under face of the body piece, and a covering ofthin exible material applied over the pads and secured to the bodypiece.

10. An insole comprising a main body piece of exble material having asubstantially plane upper face and adapted to extend from the heel ofthe foot to a point well beyond the metatarsal boneheads, a central padadapted to support the metatarsal arch and extending from a locationsubstantially at the articulation of the exterior and middle cuneiformbones with the second and third metatarsal bones and rising thence to amaximum height at the articulation of the metatarsal bones with. thephalanges'and extending thence forwardto a feather edge substantiallybehind the toes, said body piece being formed with a lateral are, a padatrsaid flare in position to support the first metatarsal bonehead, saidpads being secured to the under face of the body piece, acovering ofthin ilexible material applied over and secured to the main body piece,and an insert along the inner margin of the insole between the bodypiece and the cover piece adapted to support the 'inner longitudinalarch of the foot. 20

AUGUST MIREN TA.

